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E. P. USHER. STORAGE BATTERY.

Patented Nov.- 21, 1893,

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0 T s G UNITED STATES PATENT OEEI'CE.

EDWARD P. USHER, OF GRAFTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE HOPE- DALE ELECTRIC COMPANY OF WEST VIRGINIA, OF WEST VIRGINIA.

STO RAG E- BATT E RY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,267, dated November 21, 1893. Application led January 23, 1893. Serial No. 459,474. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD P. UsHER, of Grafton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new andusefulImprovementsinStorage-Batteries, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

This invention relates to the accumulator Io plates of storage batteries, and especially to the conductors and frames ofl such plates.

The plates of my battery are kept from lateral contact with each other by means of wooden separators or the like, and the elements, when r 5 properly arranged, are fixed in position by a quick-hardening gum. Owing to the great expense of aluminium at this time, Ido not,

for practical use, make the entire frame of that metal, although it is feasible to do so. 2o My invention consists in a frame or skeleton for battery plates having a conducting strip such as aluminium in contact with the active material, such frame beingpreferably made of vulcanized rubber or equivalent sub- 2 5 stance unaffected by the acid employed, and having upright bars preferably grooved or vertically recessed along their inner edges to receive and retain a narrow ribbon or wire of the aluminium or like conducting material. 5o Such ribbon' may, however, be' pressed into close contact with the inner edgeof said bars instead of ehtering a defined groove therein. In either case,'the end of the wire or ribbon is unitedvto the lug by which the plate is con- 3 5 nected to others in the series. This union is preferably effected by means of a leaden lug surmounting the endrnost bar ofthe frame. Tongues of the conducting wire or ribbon may be formed between the upright bars or arms 4o of the frame and in the same plane. Thin sheets of wood forming separators are placed each side of each skeleton, and the material to become active is applied in the spaces of the frame inclosed by such separators, in the form of a dry powder, loose or in tablet form. The various combinations in which my inven# tion is embodied are specified in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side eleva- 5o tion of one of the rubber frames or skeletons,

in suitable shape. Fig. 2 is avertical central section through the complete plate, from edge to edge, showing the various parts in their proper relative position. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig.4is an 55 enlarged transverse section of one of the uprights, recessed in its sides and showing the conducting ribbon in its concave edges.

A represents the skeleton of hard rubber or the like, made with such number of verti- 6o cal bars B as is desired.

C is a metallic lug, surmounting the endmost portion of the frame and adapted to be firmly united to the transverse bar which connects the several plates of each series.

D D, Fig. 3, denote wooden separator sheets, placed in close contact with each side of the frame and bars, serving to inclose a body of active material E in powdered form, iilled into the vertical spaces between such parts 7o either loosely or in tablet form.

F indicates a ribbon or wire of aluminium or other suitable conducting material resting against and preferably partially embedded in the inner edges of the frame and upright bars, where it is in immediate contact with the activel material E. Tongues or loops F of this ribbon or wire are shown in the several figures, penetrating the body of active material. The end of the wire or 'ribbon is represented 8o as connected to the metallic lug C,but it may extend directly to the transverse connecting bar which unites the series of plates. Instead of being sunken in a groove in the upright bars the metallic ribbon maybe folded around a projecting edge of said parts.

The lower edges of the frames or plates and separators are embedded in a shallow bed of quick-hardening gum G, applied while hot, whichwhen cold holds the part-s rmly. 9o

The superior conductivity, strength and lightness of aluminium, and its capacity to resist oxidation, justify its use in storage batteries in place of metallic lead, notwithstanding its present increasedcost.V 95

I claim as my invention. Y a

` l. In a battery plate the frame or skeleton described made of vulcanized rubber or the like, and having upright bars provided along their inner edges with Aa ribbon or Wire of roo aluminium as a conducting material, in oombination with a filling of material to become active, supported by said frame and in Contact with said wire or ribbon, and with continuous Wooden separator sheets inolosing the sides of such plate, substantially as set forth.

2. In a battery plate, the frame or skeleton described having upright arms grooved along their inner edges, and a conducting ribbon or wire therein, formed with projecting tongues or loops in the plane of the plate, in combination with a filling of active material in a dry powdered form, and with non-conducting separators inelosin g such material laterally, substantially as set forth.

3. In a storage battery plate, a skeleton or marginal frame of vulcanized rubber having upright arms or bars, one of which is surmounted by a metallic lug by which sflich plate is connected in series with the others, in combination with a Conducting ribbon or Wire joined to said lng and arranged along the inner edges of such arms, and with a lling of active material placed in the spaces between such arms and inolosed laterally by Wooden separators, such frames and separators being set in a base and embedded in a hardening gum, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification,in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 21st day of January, A. D. 1893.

EDWARD P. USHER. Witnesses:

A. H. SPENCER, THOMAS J. KENNY. 

